Transmission System Operators 50Hertz (Germany) and Svenska kraftnät (Sweden) agreed on further important details regarding the planning and construction of the Hansa PowerBridge in a cooperation agreement that was signed in Berlin on the 19 January. In addition to the time schedule, agreements were made on the technical design, project organisation, ownership structures, cost allocation, tendering, construction and commissioning of the planned 700 megawatt (MW) direct current connection between Germany and Sweden.

According to the current planning, preparations should now be under way for the permitting procedure on the German end, to be concluded by end of 2021. By that time, the necessary permits should also have been obtained on the Swedish end. The call for tenders for the installations is expected to be issued in 2022. The interconnector should be put into operation in 2025/2026. The investment costs, estimated to total over 600 million euros, are borne by Svenska kraftnät on the Swedish side and by 50Hertz on the German side - the costs for the shared submarine cable are evenly distributed among both TSOs. The partners will work together closely in project teams.

The interconnector, which will have a length of about 300 kilometres, will connect Güstrow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Germany) and Hurva in southern Sweden, bringing Scandinavia with its large storage volume and continental Europe with its high share of wind and solar power closer together.